Gravity wheat-heater



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. APELT.

GEAVITY WEEAT EEATEE.

110.592,041. Patented Oct. 19,. 1897.

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GRAVITY WHEAT HEATER.

110,592,041. y Patented Oct. 19,1897.

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Nrrn 'STATES 'PATENT reca.

WILLIAM APEL'I, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

G RAVVITY WH EAT- H EATER.

SPECFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 592,041, dated October 19, 1897'.

Application filed February 11, 139e. serai No. 573,901. ci@ model.)

To @ZZ whom t nea/y concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM APELT, acitizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and use` in, like letters referring to like parts throughout the several views- A Figure l is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in central vertical section, with some parts broken away, vshowing my improved grain-heater. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe annular base-casting removed from workin g position. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of said base-casting shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the upper annular casting or head. Fig. 5 is a plan view, with some parts sectioned and others broken away, Vshowing the base-hopper removed from the machine. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a central vertical section of the parts'of the hopper illustrated in Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a side view of one of the tie-rods, or vertical partitions removed from the apparatus. p

Referring to the details of the parts shown, @indicates an annular base-casting provided with an annular channel which vwould cut lthe said base a into two rings but'for `a series of perforated radial bolt-lugs a', which divide the said annular channel or slot into a series of segmental passages a2. As shown, the casting d issupported in a horizontal position, at some little distance above the floor or ground, by means of supporting-,legs a3, and on its upper face is provided with a pair of supporting-flanges a4 d5, which extend, one

on the inner edge and the other on the outer edge of the broken annular channel formed by the segmental passages a2. By reference to Fig. l, and particularly to Fig'. 2,-it will be seen that these supporting-flanges d4 a5 startv from about the face of the casting a and gradually rise until they make a complete circle, at 4which point they reach the altitude of the diameter ofthe pipe of which the coils,

vflanges d4 a5 of the casting a, with their opposing heating-surfaces spaced apart about the width ofthe radial cross-section of the segmental passages d2 and'in line therewith. At the top of the coils b and b is supported an annular head-casting c, which in form is verysimilar to that of the casting d, in that it is provided with a series of segmental passages c, formed by a groove cut in the face of the same and divided by perforated boltlugs c2,fand also provided with windingianges c3 "c4, which rest, respectively, on the tops of the coils b and b@ It will be noted by reference particularly to Fig. l that the face of the casting c is beveled downward toward the segmental passages c, so as to give a good delivery of the grain thereto.

When the castings a and c are properly positioned, the segmental passages d2 and c', respectively, thereof are brought into radial alinement with each other. This is also true with respect to the bolt-passages through the bolt-lugs d and c2 of said castings a and c, respectively. It of course follows from these statements that the segmental passages and thel boltpassages above referred to are, in each of said castings, equal in number. Long bolts or rods d are passed through the radially-alined bolt-passages of the perforated bolt-lugs ct and c2. These bolts CZ serve to divide athin conical chamber formed between the pipe-coils b and b' into a multiplicityV of nearly-vertical channels or spouts, which, while they retain the constant dimensionradially or between the coils, nare or expand toward their lower ends. The purpose of this construction will more clearly appear in the description of the action of the' apparatus.. As shown, the rods d have screw-threaded eugagement with the perforated lugs a of the IOO base-casting u, and more or less of the said rods are screw-threaded at their upper ends and are provided with nuts d', which are adapted to bear against the upper faces of the lugs c2 of the head-casting c, when tightened, and serve to clamp the said castings d and c. onto the coils l) and b'. Three or four nutted bolts, thus tightened, will be sufficient for this purpose, and the rest of the bolts may colisequently be left loose at their upper ends.

A center opening` or bore of the upper casting c is closed by means of a conical dellector f, which loosely7 telescopes into the same. This cone f is surrounded and covered by means of an inverted hopper-like section f', which is provided with a depending cylindrical flange f2, that telescopes over the upper peripheral edge of the casting. The grain to be heated or tempered is delivered to the inverted hopper f' through a supply-pipe f3, which opens through the apex of the same immediately over the apex of the conical deflector f.

Supported from the underside of the basecasting a is a conical hopper, made up principally of an inner and an outer cone g and g', respectively. The upper end of the inner cone is closed by a disk or head g2, and the said cones are rigidly secured together by means of a series of radial partitions g3, which separate the conical chambers formed between the said cones into a series of converging spouts or troughs g4. The apexes of the cones g and g and the converging ends of the radial partitions g3 are eut away to form a centrally-located valve-seat g5, and the lower extremity of the outer cone g is provided with a depending cylindrical extension gf).

Removably secured within the depending cylindrical extension g is a collar c, and working with screw threaded en gagcment within the same is a hollow sleeve or pipesection k', provided at its lower end with ra dial pins 752, by means of which it may be turned.

k3 indicates a cylindrical valve, as shown in the form of ahollow pipe-section, which is adapted to work telescopically within the valve-seat g, and, by longitudinal movement, either to completely open or to completely close the converging spouts g4 simultaneously. To accomplish this movement of the valve las, it is, as shown, rigidly connected to the hollow screw-threaded pipe-section by means of bars or brackets lul.

It will be noted that the converging spouts g4 are increased in their vertical cross-section toward their lower ends, so as to offset their contracted cross-section in a horizontal plane, thus giving the said spouts practically the same cross-section throughout their entire length.

As shown, the hopper g g is supported as above stated, but with freedom for vertical adjustments, by means of depending studs n, as shown, three in number, from the base-casting a, the lower ends of which work through coperating lug-irons n', secured on the outer cone g, and provided, at their screw-threaded ends, with nuts n2, which engage the under sides of said lugs n'.

The spouts .14 are, in number, equal to the number of passages e2 and c of the castings Ct and c, respectively, and, when properly positioned, directly underlie and register, one with each of said perforations a. The mouths of the spouts g are, however, in cross-section, much larger than the cross-section of said passages CL2, and hence readily receive all of the grain delivered thereto.

By slightly lowering the hopper g g', as shown in Fig. 1, the passage of the 1nultiplicity of streams of grain maybe readily observed; and if the said hopper be sufficiently lowered access may be had at any time to the grain to enable inspection thereof, with a view of ascertaining its temperature or other condition.

The upper ends of the coils l) and Z2 are turned outward and terminate in a common valved pipe-section b2; and at their lower ends the said coils l) and Z2' are likewise turned outward at the abrupt shoulders formed in the supporting-flanges CL4 and a5 of the casting a, and terminate in independent valved branches b3 and b, respectively. These pipe-sections b2, if, and b are intended for communication with a suitable source of steam-supply, such as a boiler.

The outer surface of the outside conical coil b' is covered with a thick layer of heatinsulating material p, which, in turn, is covered by a thin conical sheet of metal or other suitable material p. This insulating cover or jacket p p of course serves to prevent the radiation and waste of heat from the coil h.

The action of the apparatus, as an entirety, will now be described.

The parts of the apparatus being adjusted or positioned as indicated in Fig. l, and the chilled or cold grain being delivered through the spout]C3 will fall onto the conical deflector f, and be thereby defiected outward toward the periphery of the shield f2, thus forming an annular accumulation of grain immediately over the annular series of passages c' in the head-casting c. Right here it is desirable to call attention to the fact that grain, as well as other iinely-divided particles which are adapted to flow in streams, under-.the action of gravity, will, when permitted to flow in large or extended streams, tend to form channels or center drafts which accelerate the flow of the grain at such portion of the stream. This action, so far as I am aware, is a common fault found in all grainheaters and similar devices now in use. It is a serious objection, inasmuch as it causes certain particles of the grain to pass more rapidly through the heater than certain other particles, thus causing an uneven heating or tempering of the same. In my improved heater,

above described, I entirely obviate this defeet by the use of the vertical partitions d,

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which form the annular heating-chamber into the series of spouts or vertical troughs, as above described. With this construction, the grain which, as above described, is discharged in bulk over the annular series of perforations c', will, before it has had an opportunity to acquire much speed or to form currents, be separated into a multiplicity of evenly-divided small streams. As these streams pass on downward through thev channels formed between the partitions d the friction `on the grain will be gradually lessened, thus acceleratin g the fall thereof, dueto the circumferential expansion of said spouts toward their lower ends. It will, however, be noted that the said spouts retain their same radial dimensionsthr'oughout their length, so that the grain, while relieved of a certain amount of friction, will, nevertheless, be held justas closely to the heating-surfaces of the coils b and b. The inside lcoil b is given sufficient Hare or taper toward its bottom to cause the grain, in passing through the drier, to hug or bear against the heating-surface of the same, thus causing the grain to roll and turn, so that the grain will become well mixed and consequently evenly heated or tempered in passing through the drier; and the corrugated heating-surface formed by the said coil greatly increases the rolling and mixing ac` tion on the grain. The flare of the said heating-coils and spouts formed therebetween also To briefly sum up the above action, thegrain while in bulk is divided into a multiplicity of duplicate streams which, in their passage through the heater, are Well stirred' and evenly subjected to the heat-radiating surfaces, With the result that the grain is rapidly and evenly heated or tempered. From the vertical spouts of the heater the duplicate streams of grain pass through the passages o? o f thevbottom casting a into the coincident mouths of the hopper troughs or spouts g4, through which they pass, and from the lower ends of which they are discharged into the valve-seat g5, from which they pass downward through the hollow valve-sleeve la in a concentrated stream.

As already indicated, the converging hopper-spouts g4 may be completely opened or y closed, or opened any desired amount, rby the will be heated.

valve k3, under the control of the screwthreaded hollow sleeve la'. As is obvious, by opening or closing the said converging hopper-spouts g4 to a greater or less extent the rapidity of the flow of the grain through the drier may be varied at will, and it is thought to be equally as obvious that the longer the grain is held Within the heater the hotter it Hence, ofcourse, the heating or tempering of the grain may be varied to suit thevrequirements of the Work to be performed.

It is thought to be evident from the foregoing description that I have provided an extremely simple and efficient heater for the purposes had in view.

It may bestated that the heater above described is especially designed for heating or tempering wheat, an operation which is made imperative in cold climates in order to bring the wheat to the proper temperature for grindvarious alterations in the specific details of construction set forth may be made Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Let'- ters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

l. In a grain-heater or similar device, the combination with-a pair of pipe-coils closely wound to form truncated cones, concentrically located large end downward-and spaced apart vto form a conical heating-chamber, of a series of straight-line vertical partitions dividing said heating-chamber into a multiplicity of' channels which expand circumferentially toward their lower ends, substantially as described.

2. In a grain-heater or similar device, the combination with the pair of pi pe-coils closely wound to form truncated cones, concentrically located but spaced apart to form a conical heating-chamber, of the base and head pieces clamped against the ends of said coils and provided with annular series of passages in line with said conical heating-chamber, and the partition bolts or rods passed through said base and head pieces and the conical heating-chamber, certain of said bolts serving to tie said base and head pieces together, substantially as described;

3. In a grain-heater or similar device, the

combination With an annular heating-cham-- ber divided into longitudinal spouts or seccentral comlnon discharge-passage or valveseat, and a common valve'in said dischargepassage or valve-seat for simultaneouslyV opening or closing said concentric spouts, substantially as described.

5. In a grain-heater or similar device, the

combinationrwith a hopper formed with a multiplicity of converging concentrating spouts or troughs which deliver to a common discharge-passage or valve-seat, and a common valve in said discharge-passage or valve-seat,

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for simultaneously opening and closing;r said concentric spouts, substantially as described.

G. In a grain-heater or similar device, the combination with a hopper provided with a central discharge-passage or valve-seat g5, of the Valve 7c3 movable vertically in said passage or seat g5, the screw-threaded sleeve or socket 7s secured with said hopper, the screwthreaded hollow pipe-section or follower 7o provided with projections k2, and the connections 7a4 between said parts 7s' and 7c3, whereby by turning the follower-section 7c Within the sleeve or socket 7c said valve 7c3 may be opened or closed at will, substantially as described.

7. In a grain-heater or similar device, the combination with an annular heating-chamber, of a vertically-adjustable concentrating hopper receiving therefrom, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

S. In a grain-heater or similar device, the combination with the closely-Wound conical coils b b, of the base-casting c with passages a2 and perforated bolt-lugs a', the head-casting c with passages c and perforated boltlugs c2, the conical defiector fand shield f' removably supported by said head-casting c, the partition-bolts d passing through said castings a and c and the annular heating chamber formed between the coils b and b, the heat-insulating jacket surrounding the coilb', the hopper g g adjustably supported from the base-casting d and formed with the converging concentrating-spouts g4 which deliver to the common Valve-seat g5, the vertically-movable common valve 7a3 in said seat g5, the socket 7c secured with said hopper, the hollow pipe-section or follower working with screw-threaded engagement in said socket k. and the brackets 7a4 secured to said valve 7c and follower lo', substantially as described. VILLIAM APEl/l. Vitnesses:

CHARLES IIENGLER, Jol-IN HENGLER. 

